DeSantis, doing Trump's bidding, signs new draconian voter suppression law
News you need to know to help save democracy in Florida and the United States
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the president’s Mini-Me in the Sunshine State, has signed into law a bill near and dear to Donald Trump’s heart.
It’s a voter suppression bill, styled after the national SAVE America Act, that has frustratingly (to Trump) been stalled in Congress and would make it more difficult for citizens to register to vote by adding new, draconian identification requirements.
“Our constitution in the State of Florida says only American citizens are allowed to vote in our elections,” DeSantis proclaimed as he signed the bill. “And so we need to make sure that that is the law.”
It’s useful to re-read those words: It’s already illegal, the state constitution says so, but we need a new law to make it even more illegal? Like double-secret illegal?
Well, no, we don’t, and no sooner had DeSantis set down his pen than lawsuits were filed.
Here’s what Politico reported:
The new law adds proof of citizenship requirements and increases the role of state agencies to confirm citizenship. Backers of the measure contend many Floridians would not be affected because roughly 99 percent of those with driver’s licenses are already compliant with REAL ID standards that require documentation such as birth certificates.
But opponents — who are now calling it the “show your papers” law — maintain the new requirements will ultimately lead to eligible voters being pushed off the voter rolls, including married women who have changed their names and older minority voters who were born in the South and may not have a birth certificate. The lawsuit filed Wednesday also questions whether it would affect Puerto Ricans born before 2010 who came to Florida following natural disasters such as Hurricane Maria.
The groups that challenged the law — the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Florida Rising, Common Cause, Hispanic Federation, and UnidosUS — contend the measure is unconstitutional and violates the First and 14th amendments. They said it will harm ongoing voter registration efforts by the groups, Caren Short, director of legal and research at the League of Women Voters of the United States, said the new law is “based on xenophobic lies and disinformation. The Legislature’s failure to look out for constituents instead of legislators’ own political interests will harm married women, naturalized citizens, young people, and many other eligible voters who do not have ready access to documents like passports or birth certificates.”
Not everything in this unnecessary legislation is to Trump’s liking. For one thing, it doesn’t come into effect until after the midterm elections. Also, it doesn’t restrict mail-in voting, which Trump hates even though that’s how he votes.
Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that would—were it ever held to be constitutional, which, in all likelihood, it will not—add further restrictions on mail-in voting through the creation of a nationwide voter list. Anyone not on the list would not have their ballots delivered by the Post Office.
Small problem with that—besides the fact Trump has no legal authority in the matter—is that Florida allows voters to register to vote up to 29 days before an election, so eligible voters might find themselves excluded from the list if the state cooperated.
In which case Florida Republicans might find themselves crosswise with Trump.
Oh, the horror!
Of course, were it up to Trump, we wouldn’t have any more elections, anyway.
Stay tuned on that one.
J.C. Bruce is the founder of Tropic Press, a Florida online news service dedicated to sharing news and commentary relevant to Florida readers, whether it originates in the Sunshine State or elsewhere. Bruce is an award-winning former newspaper editor, journalist and author living in Florida, his native state.
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J.C. Bruce
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